A rendering of several 3D printing buildings in Zhangjiagang Bay [Photo/WeChat account: zjgcitynews]

Jiangsu Yonggang Group Co has used 3D printing technology to build four administrative offices, five public toilets, and several chairs and flower terraces as part of a landscaping project in Zhangjiagang Bay.

The new craft uses environmentally friendly materials and required less labor and cost than traditional building techniques, said a spokesman for the company.

The private steel company based in Zhangjiagang spent 50 million yuan ($7.2 million) to introduce 3D slag printing production lines in 2018, aiming to promote resource recycling.

A 3D slag printing production line at Jiangsu Yonggang Group Co in Zhangjiagang [Photo/WeChat account: zjgcitynews]

The raw material is mainly slag produced during iron and steel smelting. The slag is crushed into particles and mixed with binder, enabling the products to be as solid and safe as those made of concrete.

The 3D printing construction technology boasts many advantages, including saving materials and energy, environmental friendliness, a short construction period and easy disassembly

The products have passed a series of tests by professional institutions and have been widely used in the company’s manufacturing plants and their surrounding areas.